Ironer



y 1943- e. w. WARDWELL, JR 2,325,450

IRONER Filed Dec. 21, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y y /////A Inventor GeovgeWWavdwell, Jr.

by J

His Attoflneg.

Sheets-Skeet 2 IRONER G. W. WARDWELL Filed Dec. 21, 1937 u z W July 27, 1943.

km 2 m a IMAM M d m m. ew e 1m w e G fllllllllll y 1943- e. W. WARDWEL L, JR 2,325,450

IRONER Filed Dec. 21, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 "inilllllil Inventor GeofigeWWaPdwell, Jr. by

is Attovneg.

Patented July 27, 1943 tom-ED; .SJTATE inons George W. Wardwell, Jr., Nichols, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 21, 1937. Serial No. l81,0i2

'15 Claims. (cl,,s2 59) The present invention relates to ironers of the type having ironing member comprising a'ro ll andacooperating shoe. i The object-of my'invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in ironers of this type, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the claims appended thereto. r V

In the accompanying drawings, Fig.1 is a perspective .view of an ironer embodying my'invention; Fig. 2 is an end view'of the inner, partly broken away to show the driving mechanism; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-4 of Fig. 2; Fig.4 is an .endelevation-partly in section; .Fig. 5 i a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 isa perspective view ofone of'the speed changing gears for driving the'ironer roll; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the shifting member for changing the ironer roll speed; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation taken on line 88 of Fig. 2; Fig. dis a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line Iii-'40 of Fig. 8; Fig.

1 1 is an exploded View of the clutch which controls'the movement of the roll toward and away from the sho-e;,Fig. 12.is a-perspective view of the trip member controlling the' clutch; Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the knee padoperated linkage for operating the trip member; Fig. 14 is an end view, partly broken away, Of'IIhB con-.

' struction for supporting the shoe; Fig. 15 is a nism for rotating the roll and for moving the roll toward and away from the shoe. The housing is provided with a flange which rests on and is itably secured'to the top 5 of a suitable table.

The shoecomprisesan arcuate metal plate 5 which is heated by suitable electrical heating elements (not shown). On'the upper surface of the plate are secured lugs "I to which are'fixed the edges of a cover plate 8'. At the center of the shoe (Fig. 8) is a bracket 9 fixed to the upper surface of the plate 6. Integral with the bracket 9 is a sleeve I0 whioh-slidably and rotatably fits over the end of a rod I I. The sleeve it has a loose fit on the-rod, permitting tilting movement with reference to therod about an axis perpendicular to the rod so that the shoe can'be aligned with the roll. In the'oute'r end of the sleeve Ii] are notches I 2 which receive a pin I3 fixed in the rod I I. The shoe is urged to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, by a compres- ;sion.spring I4 arranged between a washer I5 and the bracket 9. The spring I4 holds the notches I2 against the pin I3 and resiliently centers the shoe on the arm II. The notches I2 have inclined sides so that the shoe may turn about the rod II so as to provide uniform pressure between theshoe and the roll throughout the width of the shoe. This turning movement is 'yieldingly resistedby the compression spring I4. The inclined sides of the notches are in effect cam surfaces. By exerting a twisting force on theshoe' in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '2, the notches I2 may bemoved clear of. the pin-I3 in which case the shoemay be further pivoted aboutthe red !-I. A- shoulder lzaprevents twisting of the shoe i the reverse direction. l

. At the right end ofthe shoe is-a leaf spring IS, one end of which is bolted to the upper surface of the plateB andthe other end of which bears against the under, sideof the rod II'pivoting the shoeabout the pin I3 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 8 in which 1 the rod lirests against the upper edge of an elongated flanged opening H in the shoe cover. Thisholds the shoe steady while the shoe and roll. are separated. 'Ihis pivotal movement is permitted by the clearance between the sleeve I0 and therod I I.

When the shoe and roll are in engagement, the pressure therebetween causes the rod II to deflect. The strength of the rod is such that it serves to limit the pressurejbetween the roll and the shoe and therefore to decrease the variations in pressure due to variations in the thickness of the material being ironed and, of the pad.

The mounting of the shoe also permits movement of the shoe to equalize the pressure throughout the surface of. the shoe. The leaf spring Isis relatively light compared to the pressure he .24 and 25 which pivot on the pin 22.

f the roll and the shoe will be equalized throughout the surface of the shoe. a

The right-hand end of the rod H (Fig. 8) 1S fixed in bosses l8, l9 and 2% of hingemember 2i which is hinged to the ironer housing 3 by means of a pin 22. The member 2! has hinge lugs 23, The pin is threaded into a boss 25 in the end wall of the housing i and extends through hinge lugs 25,

' 2? and 28 integral with the ironer housing.

Hinged on the pin 22 is a hinge member 29 having a hinge lug 33 located between the lugs 24 and 25. On the upper surface of the hinge member 29 is a seat 3| for the lower end of a coil spring 32. The upper end of the coil spring presses against the head of a bolt 33 which is,

threaded into a boss 34 on a web 35 extending across the ironer housing (Fig. 4). The-l hinge member 29 is provided with an elongated clearance opening 36 around the bolt 33. arrangement, it. is obvious that the member .29 is yieldingly held against the, upper surface. of the boss 34 by the spring 32.. bers 2i and 23 areconnected. together by apin 3-! which slidablyand rotatably extends through lugs 38 and 39 on the member 29 into. an opening M; in a lug M on the member 218'. The outer end of the pin S'lfproiec-ts through an elongated slot 42 in theend wall of the ironerhousing and on the protecting end of the pin is pinned a.

. in the lug 4-1 the members 2! and 29 are rigidly connected together. While so connected the pressure between the roll and the shoe is limited by the coil spring t. That is, the hinge members 2i Z8 pivot about the pin 22 as a unit. i'n'a clockwise direction. as viewed in Fig. 4, until the pressure between the roll and the'shoe is balanced by the pressure exertedon the hinge member 29 by the coil spring 32. The slot 42 provides sufficient clearance topermit this movements g i a r Betweenthe lugs 3S and 33 of the hinge member 29 is a cam 44 which is-pinned tothe pin 31. m the side of the cam facing the lug 39 is a notch 45 into which fits a pin 45 fixed in the lugthe under side of the boss [9 on the hinge member and lifts the hinge member after the pin 3! is mov ed' clear of the opening. 40. Pivotal movemerit the cam at is limitedby stops 44a and deb. The. movement of thehinge member 2!- is limited by. the engagement of a stop 49 with,

a cooperating stop 53 on the ironer'housing (Fig. 4:). The separation betweenthe roll and shoepermitted by this pivotal movement. of this hinge member 2! sufficient to expose. the surface of the shoe for cleaning purposes. Further .exposure cf the'sh'oe. be ob-tainedby forcibly turning the shoe backwards as viewed in Fig. 8, until the'notches H. are clear of the pin 13., The shoe may-then be pivoted about the rod l i until the fa'ceofthe shoe is turned'upward exposing With this The hinge merm the entire surface of the shoe for cleaning and waxing.

The construction described above serves as an emergency release for separating the roll and shoe in case the power supply fails while the roll and shoe are in engagement.

The roll (Fig. 8) comprises a sheet metal cylincler 5! on the outer surface of which is a pad 52 held in place by apad cover The pad cover is held on the roll by means of snap rings 56. which fit in grooves 55 in the inner surface of the cylinder 5! within each end of the roll.

: Slightly to the right of the center of the roll, as

When the pin viewed in Fig. 8. is a bearing 55 which rotatably supports the when an eccentric 51.

Integral with the bearing 56 is an outwardly extending flange 58 to which is riveted the inner edge of a flexible sheet steel diaphragm 59. The outer edge of the diaphragm is riveted between inwardly extending flanges 6t and ti integral with rings 82 and 83 which aresuitably secured to the inside of the cylinder 5i, for example by bolts (it: Integral with the flange 58 of the bearing 55. are radially projecting-arms $5 opposite radial slots in the diaphragm 53. integral with the arms 65 are flanges 6'! (Fig. 9) which project beyond the edges of the siots 56 an one side of the diaphragm and flanges 58 (Fig. 10) which project beyond the edges of the diaphragm on the. opposite side of the slots 65). The flanges 6'! and 68- are. connected by a web 6.; (Fig. as which projects through the center of the slots .66. The

- flanges 6? and 58 are. spaced apart to permit fiexure. of the diaphragm'thus providing a tiltable mounting for the roll. As shown in Fig. 8, the. spacing of the flanges 61. and 68 increases radially outward from the bearing 55, the shape of the flanges. conforming to the shape of the diaphragm when the roll is tilted. Under normal conditions, the diaphragm does not touch the flanges} The flanges merely serve as stops, limiting the. tilting of the roll and preventing damage, of the diaphragm. Such damage might resuit from an attempt to pick up the ironer by taking hold of the outer end of the roll. In this event, the diaphragm would be lifted until it came intocontact: with the flanges.

end of the shaft '16 which is jo-urnaled in a bearing it in the outer end of a tube i2 fixed in a boss it in the side walls of the iron-er housing. When the'eccentric 51 is rotated the ironer roll is moved thereby toward andaway from the shoe. When the eccentric is inthe" position shown in Fig. 8 the roll is separated from the shoe and when the eccentric is turned through the roll is pressedagainst the shoe. 7

If the'bearing' 5t rested directly on the outer surface of the eccentric 5T, rotation of the eccentric would cause rotation of the roll due to the. friction between the eccentric and bearing. Toprevent. this rotation of the'roll, an intermediate sleeve 74 is arranged between the outer surface of the eccentric and the inner surface of the bearing. Integral with the inner end of the sleeve it: are outwardly extending tabs'lfia (Fig. 10) which are fixed: to a plate 15 having forked ends 15a straddling the sleeve 74 and an upstanding portion 751) having flanges 16 which 'eXtendon, each side of. a tongue 1'? on a bracket roll provided'by the flexible diaphragm .59. This .tiltable mounting permits the internal gear 19' bearing'56, which rests on the outer surface of about the tongue .11 ofthe bracket 18. .During' the operation 'of the ironer the eccentric :is turned by the shaft i9,'in a manner which will hereinafter. be described, in a. counterclockwise direction; as viewed. in Fig. 2. During the first quarter revolution of "the shaft from the position shown in Fig.18 the eccentric is.rotated through 90? moving the sleeve .JM to'lth right of a center line connecting the shoe and the shaft l'fi,'as viewed in Fig. 2. During the second quarter revolution, the sleeve is swung back into line with the center line connecting the shaft H! and the shoe.

friction between the roll and'the shoe is greater than the friction between theroll bearing 55 and the sleeve 14. I 2

From the point of view of the operator, as. the roll moves toward the shoe it first moves downward and at the same} time turns backward. This continues during the firstfquarter revolution of the eccentric, During the second quarter revolution of the eccentric, the roll moves up" ward and at the same time turns forward until: it occupies the same angular position it-had:

when away from the'roll; When the roll moves away from the shoe the roll appears to first raise and then lower to its final position. Withthe above. described construction the material are ranged on the roll in eifect is brought directly:

' the rotation of the roll so that this part of the material would not be ironed.

In the right end of the roll is an cylinder 5 by screws 38. When the roll is seprated from the shoe, as shown in Fig; 8, the teeth of the internal gear are separated from the teeth. of a pinion 8! which is continuously driven in manner hereinafter described. When the roll is pressed against the shoe the internal gear is The roll follows the movement of the; sleeve until it contacts the shoe/after which the internal gear '59 which is fixed to the inner surface of the moved into'mesh with the pinionSl completing a driving connection to the roll. This driving connection is completed before full ironing pressure is developed between the roll and the shoe,-

thereby decreasing the load on-the gear teeth;

As the internal gear is ,moved into mesh with the pinion, there is some tendency for: clashing of the gear teeth. This tendency isincreasedby the fact that the gear 791s an internal gear, with its teeth extending radially.inwardgwhile the pinion 8i is an external gear, with its teeth teeth. This tendency for jamming of the gear; teeth is prevented bythe tiltable mounting ofthe;

to pause in its movement toward the pinion '8! until the teeth on the continuouslyrotated pinion 8| have turned to a position permitting nonclashing'engagement of the gear teeth. The movement of the gear teeth to the non-clashing position-is also assisted bythe slight turning of the roll due to its following the movement of the sleeve 14. .Sincethe eccentric is beingicontinuouslythrhed/the pause in the movement of the internal gear 19 results in a tilting movement ofithe roll. That is, whil the right end of themoves to roll pauses, the left endof the roll ward the shoe at a greater rate.

Since the bearing 56 and diaphragm 59, which rotatably supportthe IO11,8,IB locatedto the right of the center of the roll, as viewed in Fig.8, the

pressure exerted on the roll by the shoe tends to ivot the roll about the bearing 56in a counter-i clockwise direction an axis perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 8. This movement of the roll tends to move the teeth of the gear toward the teeth of the pinion 8 l This movement is limited by the engagementofa flange 82 'onthe internal'ge'ar with a collar 83-011 the shaft 84 to'which the pinion. is fixed. The collar 83 and the flange 82 havethesamediameteras the pitch circles of the pinion-8| and the internal gear 79, respectively, so that when these parts are in'engagementthe gear teeth mesh on their pitch circles.

'The ircner is driven by an electric motor 85 (Fig.2). mounted within the lower portion of the ironc'r housing-'3. The motor shaft 85 is journaled'in a boss 8'! in a web 88 which extends across the side walls of the ironer housing. The side and top walls of the ironer housing and the webs 88 and 35 provide an enclosure for the driv ing mechanism of theironer. On the upperend of the motor shaft 85 is cut a worm 89 which meshes with a worm gear 90 loose on a reduced portion 9! of the shaft 1!). Integral with the hub of the Worm gear 9!! are gears 92 and 93 which mesh, respectivelmwith gears 94-and 95 loose on the shafted. The gears 94 and 95 are urged apart b-yeycompres'sion spring 95 against the flanges 9! of a shifting member 98. The upper end of the shifting member is pivoted at 99 (Fig. '2) on a bracket 556i] fixedto the-end wall I ofthe ironer housing. In the lower end of the shifting memberis anelongated slot H in whichfits a. crank pin it?! integral with a shaft J3.

The shaftitdjournaled in the front wall of the ironer housing and on its Eouter end has fixed thereto afhandle MP4. The handle is held against the front faceof the ironer housing by a compression spring lilfiarranged between a flan e m6 integral with the shaft I93 and a packing washer it? pressed by the spring against the in--.

her surfa'ceof the ironer housing. The spring I05 resilientlyfholds the handle against detents [Men the outer surface of the ironer housing.

. When the handlev we is in the position shown in Fig; 1 the shifting member Qiiis in the position shown in Fig. 5 in which the gears 95 and 95 are loose on the shaft 84, the shaft accord ingly being stationary. When the lower end of the handle m4 is moved to the left, as viewed-in right, as'viewed in Fig.5, bringing the clutch teeth Hi9 on the 95 into engagement with a clutch key H0 fixed to the end of the shaftii i.

The gear 55 rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed inliig. -6.; Theends'of. the clutch teeth lot" are tapered to facilitate engagement with the the shiitingmernber 98 is moved to the key I In this positionthe smart is rotated; at its highest speed.

' When the. lower end of the handle I 114 is steed? to: the right, as viewed in Fig. l, the shifting member 981s" moved to the left, movin the. clutch teeth III in the gear 96 into engagement with a, clutch key if 2 fixed in the shaft '84. .Thiscouple the gear 94' to the shaft 84 and causes the. shaft 84' to be driven atits" lowest.speed'.;l

The rotation r theshaft is in 180 steps,

which causes the ro'll tozhe; moved toward and awa'yfrom the shoe, is accomplished by means of a clutch. having arm H3 pinned to the outer end. of the reduced portion SI of the shaft Iii, the arm having a longitudinal slot I I4 in itsouter face in which isslidably carried a clutch key I I5.

The clutch key is confined .in the slot by a plate H6 which is pinned to the outer" surface of the arm M3 by pins III. In the center of the plate H6 is an: elongated slot I1I'8in which is slidably carried" "a' sleeve I 59' having outwardly extending flanges" I26 and MI on opposite sides ofthe plate I-I-G. Loosely projectingwithin the sleeve H9. is a tongue I22 on clutch key II.-5... Arranged. between the sleeve I I9 and an arm I23 of a trip lever I24 is a tension springlzfi fFigs. 2 and 3). As is obvious from Figs. 2. and 3, the tension spring pulls the clutch key dbwnward against. the upper surface of the arm I23. In this position the clutch key is disconnected from the worm gear SI]: and the shaftiII is stationary.

The trip lever I24 is pinned to the upper end of a shaft I26 rotatably carried in a: boss I2? (Fig. 2); in th web 88 ofthe ironer' housing. The lower end of the shaft I has fixed thereto a. crank arm. I28 which is connected. by a link'l23 to a lever I36 pivoted at" I3I on the under side of the ironer table. The lever 930 is urged by a. spring Idiia against a stop I32. On the outer end of the lever is a knee pa'd' I33.

When the knee pad ismoved in the direction of"the a'rrow I34, of Fig. 13, the-trip lever I24 is moved in the direction. of the arrow I35, moving the trip lever clear of the adjacent end of the clutch key H5. The-adjacent end of the clutch key is now moved downward by the tension spring L25 into engagement with: one of the notches I136 in a fiangeIZSI' on the continuously driven worm gear 90. This establishes a driving connection from the worm gear 9!! to the shaft I0 causing the rotation of the shaft in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Once the driving connection is established, the knee pad I33 may be released and it will be returned to the positi'on shown in Fig. '13 by the spring I3 I. This also returns the trip lever I24 to the position shown in Fig. 3. During the first quarter revolution of the shaft I6, the spring !25 acts in the direction leverage exerted by the spring is a minimum whenthe arm'l I3 is at right angles to the line of action of the spring. As the shaft nears the completion of its second quarter revolution the tongue I38 on the end of the clutch key II5 opposite the endrwhich is in engagement with the worm gear 90,. passes between a projection I39 and .a cam surface I40 on the trip lever. The projection I39 is haped to prevent movement of the clutch key out of the notch I36 by the spring- I25. until: the completion of the second The cam sur quarter revolution of the shaft. face I40 is shaped so that at the end of the second quarter revolution of the shaft 18 the clutch key isforciblymoved out of the notch I36. Once out ofi the notch I36 the clutch key is further moved downward against the trip lever [23 by the spring I26, thus separating the clutch key from the notches [36. Due to the increasing effectiveness of. the spring I25 as thekey moves toward its line ofaction, the spring mayhave sufiicient effect to move the. key out of the notch at the completion of the second quarter revolution of the shaft I0.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: I

1. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, motor driven mechanism for driving the roll and for effecting engagement and separation of the roll and shoe,

a shoe supporting member, a second member,

a frame, means supporting said members on said frame for movement relative to the frame and to each other, a pin slidably carried by said second member and movableinto and out of engagement with the shoe supporting member for releasably coupling said members, and means including a spring connected between said second member and said frame for limiting the pressure between the roll and the shoe.

2. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, motor driven mechanism for driving the roll and for effecting engagement and separation of the roll and shoe, a shoe supporting member, a second member, a frame, means supporting said members on said frame for movement relative to the frame and to each other, a pin slidably and rotatably carried in said second member for releasably coupling said members, cam means on the pin and operable upon rotation thereof for moving the pin axially to a position uncoupling said members, and mean including a spring connected between said second member and said frame for limiting the'pressure between the roll and the shoe.

' 3. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a frame at one end of the roll, a shoe supporting member hinged thereto, motor driven mechanism carto move the clutch key intoengagement with I one of the notches I 36. During the secondquarter revolutionof the shaft ID the spring acts in the direction to pull the clutch key out "of engagement with the notches I36. This due to the fact that the clutch key rotates with re-' spectto the sleeve I I9 and that the spring I25 always exerts a downward pressure on the sieeve H9- The clutch key is not moved out of engagement with the notches I36 by-the spring I25 since due in. part to. the fact that the spring is not strong enough and in. part to the fact that the 4. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a frame at one end of the roll, a shoe supporting member hinged thereto, motordriven mechanism carried by the frame for driving the roll and for moving it toward and away from the shoe, a second member hinged to the frame, a pin slidably and rotatably carried in said second member for releasably coupling said members, cam means on the pin operable upon rotation thereof for moving the pin axially to a position uncoupling said members, and a spring arranged between said second member and th frame for limiting the pressure between the roll and shoe.

5. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, a frame at one end of the roll, a member hinged to the frame and having an arm supporting theshoe projecting therefrom,'motor driven mechanism carried by said frame for driving the roll and for m-oving it toward and away from the shoe, a second mem er hinged to th frame, a pin slidably and rotatably carried in said second member for releasably coupling said members, cam means on the pin effective upon rotation thereof to move the pin axially to a position uncoupling said members, and a part on said pin arranged to engage said shoe supporting member and separate it from said second member upon rotation of the 6. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, mechanism for driving the roll and for eifecting engagement and separation of the roll and shoe, 2. rod, means for supporting the shoe on the rod for pivotal movement about the axis of the rod, there being suiiicient clearance in said supporting means to permit tilting of the shoe about an axis perpendicular to the rod, and means including cooperating cam surfaces on the shoe supporting means and the rod for resiliently centering the shoe on the rod.

'7. In an ironer, a roll, a shoe, mechanism for driving the roll and for effecting engagement and separation of the roll and shoe, 9. rod, a sleeve on the rod pivotally supporting the shoe, there being sufficient clearance between the sleeve and the rod to permit tilting of the shoe about an axis perpendicular to the rod, and means including cooperating cam surfaces on the sleeve and the rod for resiliently centering the shoe on said rod.

8. In an ironer, cooperating ironing elements,

mechanism for effecting engagement and sepa ration of the ironing elements comprising a continuously rotating driving member, a driven member, a clutch member rotatable therewith, and means for eiieoting engagement of alternate ends of the clutch member with the driving mem ber to establish a driving connection to the driven member. i

9. In an ironer, cooperating ironing elements, mechanism for efiecting engagement and sepa ration of the ironing elements comprising a continuously rotating driving member, a driven member, a clutch member rotatable therewith, a

spring means for urging the clutch member into engagement with the driving member to establish adriving connection to the driven member,

and provisions whereby the clutch member. is

means and the clutch member whereby the clutch member is urged out ofengagement with the driving member by the spring means upon a predetermined rotation of the driven member.

ll. In an ironer, cooperating ironing elements, mechanism for efiecting engagement and separation of the ironing elements comprising a continuously rotating driving member, a driven member, a clutch member rotatable therewith, spring means for urging alternate ends of the clutch member into engagement with the driving member to establish a driving connection to the drive member, a controlmember normally preventing movement of the clutch member to the driving position and movable to a position permitting movement cf'the clutch member to the driving position, and means carried by the control member for moving the clutch member from the driving position upon a predetermined rotation of the driven member.

12. In an ironer, cooperating ironing elements, mechanism for effecting engagement and separation of the ironing elements comprising a continuously rotating driving member, a driven member, a clutch member rotatable therewith,

spring means for moving the clutch member into engagement with the driving member to establish a driving connection to the driven member, a control member normally preventing movement of the clutch member to thedriving position and movable to a position permitting movement of the clutch member to the driving position, and means including said spring means for moving the clutch member from the driving position upon a predetermined rotation of the driven member.

13. In an ironer, cooperating ironing elements,

mechanismfor effecting engagement and separation of th ironing elements comprising a con-.

tinuously rotating driving member, a driven member, a clutch member rotatable with the driven member, each end thereof being movable into engagement with the driving member to establish a driving connection to the driven member, and spring means for biasing the clutch member in a predetermined direction, the clutch member being rotatable relative to the spring means whereby during the rotation of the driven member alternate ends of the clutch member are biased to the driving position. i

14. In an ironer, a driving gear, a roll, a driven gear carried by the roll, means for efiecting relative movement of the gears into and out of mesh for controlling the rotation of the roll, and means including a flexible diaphragm extending transverse to the roll axis and flexible in the direction of its thickness providing a tiltable support forv the roll whereby the driven gear may yield to prevent jamming as the gears are meshed.

15. In an ironer, a driving gear, a roll, a driven gear carried by the roll, means for effecting relative movement of the gears into and out of mesh for controlling the rotation of the roll, a roll bearing, and means including radial members flexible transverse to the length thereof between the roll and roll bearing providing a tiltable sup-- port for the roll whereby the driven gear may yield to prevent jamming as the gears are meshed.

GEORGE W. WARDWELL, JR. 

